Blackadder has cunning plan to get home town victory at Reefton

Ears Back won impressively at Trentham last year. Photo / Peter Rubery

Former West Coaster John Blackadder has had plenty of success around the South Island, but there remains one track firmly on his hit-list: his former hometown of Reefton.

He is hoping to rectify that at the West Coast track on Wednesday where he will be represented by half a dozen runners.

“I think I have won a race on just about every course in the South Island, but I have never won one at Reefton, my old hometown,” he said.

“I have got a six-pronged attack on Wednesday.”

His charge will be led by Group Three winner Ears Back in the Birchfield Ross Mining Reefton Cup (1400m), who drops back from Group One company, having last raced in the Mufhasa Classic (1600m) at Trentham last month.

While she beat just one runner home on that occasion, she faced a strong line-up, and Blackadder was proud of her performance.

“She was just a bit outclassed,” he said. “It was a brilliant Group One field, and she led them with 150m to go, so it wasn’t a bad effort overall.”

Blackadder has subsequently given the seven-year-old mare some time in the paddock and is looking forward to resuming her at Reefton.

“The trip took a wee bit out of her so I gave her a couple of weeks off,” he said. “I haven’t brought her over here [West Coast] before and it will give her a nice run back.

“It is my old hometown so it’s nice to bring a nice horse over here for the Cup.”

While Ears Back has been lumbered with 60kg, apprentice jockey Jack Taplin will give her some weight relief.

“I have got Jack Taplin riding her so he will take three [kilograms] off,” Blackadder said.

All going to plan, a return trip across the Cook Strait is likely for Ears Back to tackle further stakes assignments.

“I might go up to the Central Districts for those Group Three races,” Blackadder said. “She likes it up there.”

Blackadder will have a quintet of other runners at Reefton on Wednesday, and he is excited about their prospects.

“I am bringing six fresh runners. I am happy with the whole lot and the way they have been working, and I have got some nice draws,” he said.

Blackadder is particularly upbeat about the prospects of Crunchie Boy in The Blackadder Brothers (1400m).

“I don’t think any race is easy, but it won’t be as strong as he faced last start at Wingatui,” he said.

– LOVERACING.NZ News Desk